The Pediatric Surgery service at MassGeneral Hospital for Children is an international referral center for the complete spectrum of general and thoracic pediatric and neonatal surgical services, including the evaluation and treatment of:

The Pediatric Surgery service also provides all pediatric surgical trauma services as a Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center, and simple and complex burn care at the Shriners Hospitals for Children- Boston.

Research

The Department of Pediatric Surgery has an extensive program in basic research. Areas of focus include:

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia

Respiratory failure

The development of fetal inhibitors as anti-cancer agents

Intersex abnormalities and sexual differentiation

General fetal and embryologic development

Development of the intestine and the study of intestinal motility disorders, such as Hirschsprung's disease

Congenital liver defects are rare liver diseases present at birth such as biliary atresia, when the bile ducts are absent or have developed abnormally, and choledochal cyst, a malformation of the hepatic duct that can obstruct flow of bile in infants.

A dermoid cyst is a pocket or cavity under the skin that contains tissues normally present in the outer layers of the skin. The pocket forms a mass that is sometimes visible at birth or in early infancy but often is not seen until later years.

A diaphragmatic hernia is a birth defect. An opening is present in the diaphragm. With this type of birth defect, some of the organs that are normally found in the abdomen move up into the chest cavity through this abnormal opening.

Dysphagia is a term that means "difficulty swallowing." It is the inability of food or liquids to pass easily from the mouth, into the throat, and down into the esophagus to the stomach during the process of swallowing.

Exstrophy of the bladder is a complex combination of disorders that occurs during fetal development. The disorder usually involves many systems in the body, including the urinary tract, skeletal muscles and bones, and the digestive system.

Lymphadenopathy is the term for swelling of the lymph nodes - the bean-shaped organs found in the underarm, groin, neck, chest, and abdomen that act as filters for the lymph fluid as it circulates through the body.

A lymphatic malformation is a mass in the head or neck that results from an abnormal formation of lymphatic vessels. Lymphatic malformations are sometimes seen in children with certain chromosome abnormalities and genetic conditions.

Pyloric stenosis is a problem that affects babies between 2 and 8 weeks of age and causes forceful vomiting that can lead to dehydration. It is the second most common problem requiring surgery in newborns.

A thyroglossal duct cyst is a neck mass or lump that develops from cells and tissues remaining after the formation of the thyroid gland during embryonic development. It is most commonly diagnosed in preschool-aged children or during mid-adolescence.